Asia Cup Fantasy Top Picks for Matchday 1

In this article we look at the Asia Cup Fantasy top picks for Matchday 1. With the competition edging closer we go through all of the best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards for the round ahead.

Finding out who the Asia Cup Fantasy top picks for Matchday 1 are is crucial for managers. Knowing which players to invest in could help with decisions towards transfers, captaincy and chip strategy and so could be vital for rank and mini-league positioning.

Goalkeepers – Meshaal Aissa Barsham

Qatar are one of several favourites to win the tournament so investing in them makes sense. They come up against Lebanon in the opener, a team who rank 107th in the FIFA world ranking. Although pricier than what some managers are looking for Meshaal Aissa Barsham (5.5m) has clean sheet potential.

Zion Suzuki

Japan go into the Asia Cup as firm favourites which may come as no surprise. They also have a great group from a fantasy perspective starting with Vietnam. Zion Suzuki hasn’t just got great clean sheet potential bit he also comes in at a fantastic 5m price-tag.

Defenders – Saud Abdulhamid

Saudi Arabia are another side expected to do well this campaign. They play with a back-three system at times which means their wing-backs get into some extremely attacking areas. This helps Saud Abdulhamid (5.5m) who has racked up four attacking returns in the Saudi league this season.

Harry Souttar

Australia have proved to be a very good defensive unit over recent years and also managed four back-to-back clean sheets. Whilst it could be tempting to invest less money at the back Harry Souttar (6.5m) scored in three of his last four matches for country.

Ramin Rezaeian

Iran are seemingly another side who should ease through their Group. They face a Palestine side who have failed to score in four of their last five matches. Ramin Rezaeian (6m) could be a great pick. As well as clean sheet potential he also has huge attacking threat. The fact he has scored two goals and created three assists in his last seven matches for club and country reflects that.

Ki Je Lee

South Korea have been exceptional defensively recently – keeping a whopping seven clean sheets on the bounce. Whilst many opt for the more expensive option Min-jae Kim some could opt for Ki Je Lee who comes at a jaw dropping 4.5m

Lucas Mendes

Finding budget defenders this season could be extremely important and that is where we go with our next pick. Qatar face a poor Lebanon side next so buying into their backline could be a wise move. With all of that in mind Lucas Mendes (4.5m) could be a nice play.

Midfielders – Salem Al-Dawsari

Saudi Arabia have a great first fixture against Oman this week. They have also proved efficient when it comes to scoring goals – netting seven in their last three matches. One of their standout attackers is Salem Al-Dawsari (9m). Many will recognise him from his two goals in the most recent World Cup but he has also bagged nine goals and two assists in 18 league games this season.

Kang-in Lee

Buying into the South Korea attack considering their one of the big favourites is crucial. They play a Bahrain side who have conceded two goals in both of their last two matches and Kang-in Lee looks like he could have huge potential. In his last five matches for country Kang-in Lee hit a huge three assists and four goals.

Merchas Doski

The game have made it somewhat difficult to find cheap players this season which has forced us to submit a pick like our next. Iraq face Indonesia in their first meeting , a team who have lost three of their last five matches. Merchas Doski plays as a full-back but is categorised as a midfielder in the game. He scored in one of his most recent league matches but he also comes in at just 4.5m. Merchas Doski will help enable your teams as well as have some potential against his upcoming opposition.

Connor Metcalfe

Australia haven’t just got a good defence but they are also very proven in attack. More recently the ‘Aussies’ have racked up a huge 10 goals in their last three matches. Connor Metcalfe (6.5m) doesn’t just offer cheap route into the frontline but he also fills the gaps in our midfield, a position that seems tough to fill. Metcalfe has mustered up two assists in one of his most recent matches for Australia.

Ali Jasim Elaibi

As mentioned earlier Iraq face Indonesia in the first match, a team who have conceded a huge 12 goals in their last four matches. One player who could take advantage of this is Ali Jasim Elaibi. The 19-year-old has burst onto the scene recently – picking up two assists in his last two three matches for country. He also bagged four goals in five AFC Champions League matches. One of the biggest factors towards his appeal is his price-tag.

Forwards – Son Heung-Min

South Korea look set to take advantage of a poor Bahrain in Matchday 1. Taking the fact his side is one of the favourites and their recent scoring output then Son Heung-Min (12m) could be an essential. The Tottenham attacker takes penalties for his side but he is also their talisman. As well as accumulating a huge 17 attacking returns in the Premier League this season Son also hit four goals and two assists in his last three matches for country.

Mehdi Taremi

Another player that will be difficult to leave out is this man. Mehdi Taremi (11.5m) has been exceptional for some years now in Europe but he has also been excellent for country bagging four goals and an assist in his last five games. Some football fans will remember the two goals he scored in the World Cup against England and some his excellent Champions League campaign for Porto when he managed seven goal contributions in seven matches. Taremi is an easy inclusion into the Asia Cup Fantasy Top Picks for Matchday 1.

Arif Aiman Hanapi

Malaysia may not be one of the strongest teams in the competition but they are fully capable offensively. In fact they have netted four times in two of their last five matches. They also face a Jordan side who shipped a huge six goals to Japan recently. Their talisman is Arif Aiman Hanapi (10m). Not only does he take penalties but has managed an impressive eight goals and five assists in his last 10 matches in all competitions.

Mitchell Duke

Leading the impressive Australia attack into a game against India is Mitchell Duke (10m). Duke is one of the favourites to pick up the golden boot this campaign and that is no surprise as he racked up five goals in his last six matches in all competitions. Duke has also proved his talent at top level – scoring in his sides most recent World Cup.